Efflorescence External Wall - Solutions please

[QuestionsQuestions]

Hi All

A few years ago we had a brick base built (approx 3 ft high) including piers and one full wall for a sun room/conservatory put on top of it. Its about 3mx5m. It has a suspended wood base floor. We then had some decking fitted externally to this which has a space underneath it of about 30cm where we store wood (its 5m x 3m)
The one row of brick that i can see between decking and patio door threshold now has white deposits on it. What i want to know is how can i increase air circulation to stop this...i thought maybe digging a small trench where brick meets the earth under the decking and filling with gravel? will this help? or maybe doing something to the brick course under the decking? I'm an absolute novice so just guessing but anyone with expertise to advise would be great. Thanks

 

[blup]

If there's no dpc, a shingle trench probably won't help because damp will find a way in. I have seen brick walls with dpc's and serious efflorescence for the few courses above, but similar sections of the wall, further along, without the same problem. Improving air flow around the wall can only help.

 

[robinbanks]

Might the patio door drains be draining by into the frogs, filling the bricks with water? As it slowly makes its way through the brick, it carries salts and deposits them on the face as it evaporates away..

How keen are you to stop it?

Post some pics so we can see what you're working with